President | Vivon Corporation

Jon Sockol, President and Treasurer of Vivon Corporation in Marlborough, Massachusetts, oversees commercial real estate (CRE) development projects throughout Central Massachusetts. A Certified Public Accountant, he maintains more than a decade of experience working in CRE.

Multiple trends and factors are expected to shape and grow the U.S. CRE market in 2013, according to industry professionals. Several organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Deloitte LLP, identify sustainable construction and design as an important trend in 2013, with commercial property owners and developers expected to benefit the most from core projects that integrate effective layouts and energy efficient features and achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Experts also forecast that 2013 will provide multiple opportunities for CRE repurposing and value-add projects.

A recent CRE report by the ULI and PricewaterhouseCoopers points to several best bet projects for investors and developers in 2013. Among these best bets are urban infill projects in hip residential neighborhoods of top metropolitan markets, such as New York and San Francisco. The same report suggested an increased demand for industrial projects in major distribution hubs, such as those located near international airports and seaports.

Jon Sockol is a Massachusetts-based executive with a track record of success in commercial real estate investments. Mr. Sockol has been President of Vivon Corporation for over a decade.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducts an annual survey of the entrepreneurial climate in U.S. states. Five factors determine each state’s rankings: business growth (per capita and percentage), business formation, patents per capita, and income per proprietor. In 2012, Massachusetts earned top honors, thanks to exceptional rankings in business growth, patents, and income, based on 2011 data.

Despite this success, business formation in Massachusetts has opportunity to improve – and the state of Massachusetts has an online, step-by-step guide for prospective entrepreneurs. The guide compiles links and advice from trusted resources, including the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, the state website (Mass.Gov) advises entrepreneurs on key topics such as getting training, choosing a location, obtaining financing, and more.

In addition, the Mass Alliance for Economic Development—known as Mass Econ—helps market the attractive qualities of doing business in Massachusetts. MassEcon also helps prospective entrepreneurs gather essential data and research prospective locales for their new ventures. These resources can help draw new businesses to a thriving entrepreneurial environment.

Perhaps the most important part of the leasing process for a business owner is selecting the appropriate site. Business owners should make a checklist of their needs before ever looking at potential properties. For example, what space requirements or amenities does the business require? What type of location would be ideal? Making such a list allows the business owner to remain clear on their firm’s needs when touring properties and noting the qualities unique to each site.

Once the owner’s checklist is complete and various potential properties are selected, the business owner may need to gather additional information specific to a given property. For example, for retail businesses, how much consumer traffic passes the site? This type of data will go a long way in ensuring the ideal property is selected.

After a site is selected and negotiations on a lease begin, business owners should be certain they understand not only the agreement’s payment terms, but also the responsibilities of each party. For example, who pays for normal maintenance on the property, such as grounds-keeping, and who bears responsibility for property damage caused by storms or other natural casualties? Clear knowledge of such provisions before entering the agreement helps ensure against unexpected financial liabilities later.

Jon Sockol is president of Vivon Corporation in Westborough, Massachusetts.

The founder of Vivon Corporation, Jon Sockol focuses on commercial development in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The community holds a long history of enterprise and a highly favorable business climate. From a legacy of shoe manufacturing, Marlborough has transitioned in recent years into a favored location for high-tech and specialty electronics firms.

A key factor in the current growth of Marlborough, which is only 35 miles from Boston, has been the construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike. The nearly 140-mile stretch of Interstate 90 runs east to west from Boston, through the Berkshires, to New York. Construction on the highway notably lasted several decades, beginning in 1958 and finishing in 2003.

Due to the fact that traveling from Boston is quick and hassle-free, Marlborough has attracted major computer firms such as Hewlett-Packard, Raytheon, Boston Scientific, Sun Microsystems, 3Com, and AMD. Jon Sockol has taken advantage of this pro-business and pro-development civic stance in constructing two commercial buildings for lease on Northboro Road in Marlborough.

A professional home to over 10,000 certified public accountants, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants serves as an advocate of and community for industry professionals. Dedicated to increasing service values, protecting the designation, and creating new approaches to the accounting practice, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants is always working to provide its members and the industry with quality resources.

In November of 2012, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants is holding several professional seminars, including a course in Risk Management 101, a breakfast themed “Women in Accounting,” and a workshop for international students. For more information about becoming a member and attending society events, visit MSCPAonline.org.

About the Author:

Jon Sockol, president of Vivon Corporation in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is an entrepreneur and experienced financial expert. He is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts, and the recipient of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants Achievement Award.

Denmark’s capital is beautiful, very old, and offers its citizens and visitors several immaculately maintained public parks and gardens. Frederiksberg Gardens, near to central Copenhagen, is made up of fountains and ponds, expansive lawns bordered by woods and landscaping, and winding footpaths and canals. King Frederick IV led the gardens’ development 300 years ago as he built his summer home, the Frederiksberg Palace.

The park has benefited from the artistry of renowned landscape architects over the years, most notably changing at the end of the 18th century to what it is today. Several small islands are formed by the park’s canals, with the most well-known at the location of the park’s Chinese gazebo.

Frederiksberg Gardens’ neoclassical temple, statuary, bridges, waterfall, and magnificent main gates have offered generations a place of traditional beauty. The park is open during all seasons: in the winter, sledding and skating are available, and in the summer, it offers boating and picnics in the shade.

About the author: Jon Sockol, President of Vivon Corporation, spent a semester in Copenhagen during his undergraduate years. Sockol earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science in Accounting at Bentley College.

A recent study from researchers at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln ranked Massachusetts the top state in the nation for entrepreneurs. The annual US State Entrepreneurs Index compares states based on the percent of business growth, per capita business growth, the per capita business formation rate, the number of patents per thousand residents, and the non-farm business income per proprietor. Massachusetts performed very well in nearly all of the categories and topped the list.

There are several reasons why Massachusetts has such a healthy entrepreneurial climate. There is an excellent K-12 education system, so businesses have a pool of well-qualified potential employees from which to pull. In addition, Massachusetts’ excellent universities—including MIT, Harvard, and Tufts—conduct cutting edge scientific research. This translates into a wealth of patents in fields such as medical devices, biotechnology, computers, and engineering. Finally, Massachusetts has a healthy financial sector and a prosperous population, so small businesses can find a niche and thrive. As a Massachusetts entrepreneur, I’m proud to be a part of such a creative and innovative community of business owners.

About the Author:

Jon Sockol, the President of Vivon Corporation in Marlboro, Massachusetts, has a proven track record of successful commercial real estate investments. Sockol holds degrees in Accounting and Business Administration.

As President of Vivon Corporation for over a decade, Jon Sockol has successfully undertaken two construction projects on Northboro Road in Marlborough, Massachusetts. In July 2006, Jon Sockol initiated a proposal for construction of a retail/office building at 497 Northboro Road, submitting a site plan to the Office of the Building Inspector at Marlborough City Hall.

Mr. Sockol was issued an approved site plan permit for the work in November, and he received a demolition permit for the existing abandoned building in February 2007. The City of Marlborough issued a commercial building permit for a two-story office building in July 2008. The project proceeded as planned, with a permanent Certificate of Occupancy for the completion of the building issued in November 2009.

Today, the newly constructed building operates as a commercially zoned mixed-use retail/office space. The building is located in a commercial area, with the RK Plaza and numerous industrial and research and development centers in the vicinity. The building is set back from the road for maximum visibility and enjoys a high daily traffic count, near a traffic-lighted intersection. Jon Sockol continues to focus on property licensing and development opportunities with Vivon Corporation.

Possessing a background in accounting and business administration, Jon Sockol has led the real estate development and leasing firm Vivon Corporation since 2000. Jon Sockol’s firm, which is based in Westborough, Massachusetts, focuses on developments in the nearby community of Marlborough.

Located approximately 35 miles west of Boston and with a population of nearly 40,000, Marlborough emerged as a shoe manufacturing center in the 1830s. Factories in the city notably produced many of the boots worn by Union soldiers during the Civil War. The city was also a pioneer in developing a civic streetcar system in the late 1800s.

The shoe industry thrived in Marlborough through the mid 20th century, with Frye boots being produced there as late as the 1970s. The Rockport Company was notably established in Marlborough in 1971, although it is currently based in Canton, Massachusetts, and is a subsidiary of the global brand Adidas.

Marlborough’s long history of mercantile enterprise has led to a wave of sustained technology-focused growth. This positive business climate has influenced Jon Sockol’s decision to undertake commercial development in the community.